Area Sport Fishing Reports
Southern Kenai/LCI

Archived Sport Fishing Report

August 08, 2017

Week of August 9 to August 14

Regulation Reminders and Emergency Orders

• All sections of the Anchor River, Deep Creek, Stariski Creek, and Ninilchik River are open to sport fishing. The use of bait and treble hooks are legal gear through August 31. Anglers are reminded that the upper sections are closed to salmon fishing.
• The Nick Dudiak Fishing Lagoon is closed to snagging from the Homer city dock near the entrance of the Homer boat harbor (and including the Homer boat harbor) to the ADF&G markers about 200 yards northwest of the lagoon entrance to a distance to 300 feet from shore.
• Unguided anglers can retain two halibut per day, four in possession. Guided anglers should consult federal regulations.

China Poot Personal Use Sockeye Salmon Emergency Order

• The personal use bag and possession limit for sockeye salmon in the China Poot Creek dip net fishery is increased from six fish to 25 fish per day effective Friday, August 4, 2017, at 12:01 a.m. and the season is extended through 11:59 p.m. Monday, August 14, 2017. Only sockeye salmon may be kept. All other fish must be released.

Razor Clam Emergency Order

• All Eastside Cook Inlet beaches from the Kenai River to the tip of the Homer Spit are CLOSED to the taking of all clams through December 31, 2017.

Saltwaters Fishing Report

Halibut

• Halibut fishing has been good. The average weight of halibut harvested is improving as larger fish move from deeper waters. Halibut sampled at the Homer harbor now average ~14 lbs., up from ~11 lbs. earlier in the season.
• Anglers report catching spiny dogfish while targeting halibut. Anglers are advised to move to another location if spiny dogfish bycatches are high.
• Anglers targeting halibut are having success using herring on circle hooks. Herring is the most popular bait, but octopus, squid, salmon heads, and jigs also work well.
• Try fishing around and during slack tide. This allows anglers to keep the bait on the bottom using less weight.

Salmon

• Trolling success for king salmon has been poor to good in Kachemak Bay. King salmon were caught last week at locations off the tip of the Homer Spit, Bluff Point, and from Point Pogibshi to Flat Island.
• Anglers have been successful targeting coho and pink salmon in salt water from Point Pogibshi to Gore Point.
• Downriggers are essential for trolling in deeper water. Try various depths between 15-90 feet. Small herring trolled behind a flasher or dodger is the most effective presentation. Small thin blade spoons and large spoons have been working as well. Try fishing in deeper water over 50 feet, to avoid pink salmon when targeting king or coho salmon.
• Good numbers of coho salmon have entered the Nick Dudiak Fishing Lagoon and the fishing has been fair. Try salmon eggs or herring suspended under a bobber. Some anglers also have success with spinners. The best time to try for newly arriving fish would be as water starts flooding into the lagoon on the incoming tide.
• Pink salmon are still arriving in Tutka Bay Lagoon with very few sockeye salmon mixed in. These fish are mostly caught by anglers snagging with weighted treble hooks.
• Large numbers of pink salmon have been observed in Tutka Bay outside of the lagoon. Try trolling small spoons and hootchies to catch these fish.

Other Saltwater Fishing

• Fishing for lingcod has been slow since the season opened on July 1. Those anglers returning with lingcod are most successful near Chugach or Elizabeth Islands.
• Fishing off the end of the Homer Spit can be a fun way to pass the time. Species available include Walleye Pollock, Pacific cod, a variety of flatfish species, and an occasional salmon. Be certain to check regulations regarding bag and possession limits and know which species it is that you’re keeping before harvesting them.
• The best locations for targeting black, dark and dusky rockfish in Kachemak Bay are along Bluff Point and near Point Pogibshi, with the best fishing being outside of Cook Inlet around the Chugach Islands.
• This week there have been reports of larger than average yelloweye rockfish being harvested around the Barren Islands as well.
• Anglers use a variety of gear including spoons, jigs, herring and flies to catch rockfish. They are also commonly caught when trolling with downriggers for salmon.
• Rockfish caught in deep water suffer injuries from decompression. Recent research by Department staff indicates the survival of released rockfish can be substantially improved by releasing fish at the depth of capture. For more information on the use of deep water release mechanisms, see the ADF&G Rockfish Conservation and Deepwater Release webpage.

Fresh waters Fishing Report

Personal Use Fishing

• Dipnetting for sockeye salmon in China Poot remains open until August 14. There were still some newly arriving fish this past weekend but the run should be nearing the end.

Streams

• Expect good Dolly Varden fishing this week in the upper streams. Most of the Dolly Varden have moved upriver behind spawning king salmon. Egg patterns will have the best success but flesh flies, smolt patterns and small spinners are effective gear as well.
• Good numbers of pink and chum salmon are available in streams on the south side of Kachemak Bay and anglers fishing for them have had good success.
• Coho salmon are starting to arrive in area streams but expect slow fishing over the next week. Try fishing early in the morning or at the mouth of the stream during the incoming tide. More coho salmon will enter these streams as the water levels start to rise from rainfall. Fishing salmon roe clusters and herring are the most effective method to target coho salmon.

Lake Fishing

• The Kenai Peninsula stocked lakes fishing conditions are good. Most of these lakes are stocked with rainbow trout which, at this time of year, are taken on dry or wet flies, small spoons, spinners, or bait. A brochure listing the locations of the stocked lakes is available on the ADF&G Sport Fish web site and at ADF&G offices.

Shellfish

• The next series of clamming tides are August 6-11.
• Occasionally there are PSP advisories issued by the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation. Contact them at (907) 269-7501, or check out their PSP page on the Internet at: http://dec.alaska.gov/eh/fss/seafood/Shellfish_Home.html
• Razor clams can be found on beaches along the west side of Cook Inlet and are accessed by boat or plane. Popular razor clam beaches include Crescent River, Chinitna Bay and Polly Creek. Boaters should use caution before traveling across the inlet because of strong currents and should check weather forecast before traveling.
• Littleneck (steamer) and butter clams can be found in gravel beaches on the south side of Kachemak Bay from Seldovia to Chugachik Island.
• Good numbers of butter clams are found on the islands in China Poot Bay. Butter clams can be found up to two feet deep. Littleneck clams can be found in a variety of habitats from Jakolof Bay to Bear Cove. Try exploring new beaches for success. Typically, littleneck clams are found shallower in the substrate, up to eight inches deep.
• There will be a tanner crab fishery opening October 1 and closing February 28, 2018. All shrimp and other crab fisheries in Kachemak Bay remain closed for 2017.